(I work in the sales and service department for a publishing company that specializes in religious curriculum. We often get calls from well-meaning but untrained church ladies who volunteer at their church when no one else will, in positions they have no right working at.)

Me: “Thank you for calling [Company]. How may I help you?”

Church Lady: “Yes, I am the new treasurer at [Church] and the statement you sent us makes no sense whatsoever. Can you help me?”

Me: “Okay, I’ll be more than happy to help you. What is your question?”

ChurchLady: “I don’t understand what it means on the bottom, where it says ‘Dollar sign seven-five-period-four-five.’”

Me: “Um… that is the amount your church owes. $75.45.”

Church Lady: “Oh, I guess I’ve just never seen it written like that before.”

Me: “Oh, yes! I believe it was installed last Monday and looks just great. I passed by it the other day. What’s going on?”

Client: “Well, I’m looking at the board right now and it doesn’t have my design on it!”

Me:*surprised, because I had just passed it the day before and it was there* “What do you mean? Is there another advertisement on there?”

Client:*getting more mad* “Yes! I thought I was paying to be up there for three months!”

Me: “Hold on, [Client]. I’ll go out there right now and take a look!”

(I proceed to drive an hour from the office to go to the billboard. It’s located on a strip of highway between two cities, so there is nothing but desert around it. When I get there, I see that the client’s ad is up. I give him a call.)

Me: “Hi, [Client], I’m standing here in front of the board and your advertisement is up!”

Client: “That’s b******t! I’m looking at it right now too, and it’s for [Other Advertiser]!”

Me: “…Where are you? Are you at the right board? I don’t see you here.”

Client: “Well, of course I’m not there! I’m at my store, looking at it on [Website commonly used to view streets]!”

Me:*trying hard not to be rude* “[Client], [Website] runs that service, not [My Company], and they don’t always update the images. What you’re seeing is an old advertiser. I promise you, I’m standing right here. I’ll take a picture with my phone and email it to you.”

Client: “You better not be lying, because I’ll sue you for wrongful advertisement!”

(I sent him a photo with his advertisement up, as well as a photo of me with the board in the background. He then renewed his contract with us for another year!)

(I work on a sales chat service for a large IT company. Customers come through and ask us questions about products, prices, etc. We offer a discount for students so this is something we get asked on a lot.)

Customer: “I would like to buy a computer. How much is it with the education discount?”

Me: “I’d be happy to help with that! If you can let me know where you’re studying and which computer it is you’re looking to purchase then I can certainly check if there is a discount available on that for you.”

Customer: “[University], [model of computer].”

Me: “Perfect, thanks! With your discount, that model would cost you £945.60. Are you happy that this is the best computer for your needs?”

Customer: “I don’t know. I’m working in a budget. Is there a cheaper option?”

Me: “What sort of budget did you have in mind?”

Customer: “£1000.”

Me: “Well, the model above does cost less than £1000, so it does come in under your budget.”

Customer: “Okay. This model will be fine, then.”

Me: “Are you sure that this model would be suitable for your university work?”

Customer: “I don’t know. What can I not do on this computer that I can do on another?”

Me: “Well, that’s a very difficult question to answer. If you can tell me what sort or stuff you’ll be using it for, I’d be happy to let you know if it’s suitable.”